Thread protector



Jan. 6, 1931. P J. SHRUM THREAD PROTECTOR Filed 001;. 29. 1927 ATTORNEYS.

, Patented James, 1931 r WUNITEDSTATES' PETER J. SERUM, or MONACA HEIGHTS, westerners; ass abate rrrr'sr'maen SCREW Arm nor/r CORPORATION, a mar aritas ea FEfiHSYLVANiA' THREAD raornc'ro'n Application filed octbber 'ea, 1927 Serial lemma;

'lh-isinvention. relates to improvement in internal thread protectors and more partic-s ularly to those for use in connection with internal threads on couplings for tubes, pipes and the like. V 5

It 's customary in shipping internally threaded couplings to protect the ends of the coupling and the threads therein, by screwing I a thread protector into'the. Coupling ends. 10 The protector not onlyv stifiens the coupling, but prevents injury to the couplingends as well as protecting the threads from damage and dirt. Often tiniespipes and couplings are shipped in opencars and durv. ing their transit from one placeto another,

they are subject to various weather condi tions, such as rain and moisture which causes the thr'eadsto corrode or rust and often times the ends of such couplings or pipes are pro- 2b vided with the thread protectors that have heretofore been provided which permits moisture, rain and the like access to the threads and in many instances, damages the threads to a great extent.

One object of this invention is to provide an improved thread protector for use with couplings which are so constructed as to offer a special protection to the end portions of the coupling upon which they are used.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved thread protector for use with internally threaded couplings which are so constructed as to provide space between the thread protector and the internal 3:! threads of the coupling for containing a lubricant.

A further object of this invention is to provide a thread protector constructed in such a manner as to form a lubricant 'cham:-'

such a manner as to prevent leakage of the oil contained there-between.

Referring to the drawingythe single view illustrates partly in elevation and partly in section,a protector embodyingthis invention, applied to a coupling havlng internal threads, the other end of 131 1c coupling .bein attached toa pipe; f

the construction shown, 11 represents the endfp ortion of a pipe liaving external tapered 'thr eads flZciit therein; 13 is a cou;

pling havi ig internalf tapered threads =14 w for engaging and cooperating W'itli' the threads 12ofthefpipe 1 1'., .The' threadsll l ofthe' coupling 13 tapi- 0atward1y toward 7' the end of the coupling; "for the {obvious reason of coupling together twosuch pipe ends as, 11.; "The coupling isalso provided with a tapered skirt portion- '15 at its ends to protect threads as well asthe vanishing threads "of the pipes and aids in placing the coupling on the end ofthe pipe.

I The thread protector embodying this invention represented, :in its. entirety by 16, is formed fromv a section of tubing n such mann'er as to rovide a1 body;por

tion which is amaze in shape 'Iliefinner I or smallerj'end I of thegprotector, 16 ,is ro- VlfClQd an externally I tapered threaded portion l8,-adapted to mesh withlthe'threads ofthe couplingh, T V y I J The outer or larg end'of the protector terniinatesjn an outwardlyextending annular fiange 19 having a re -entraiit portion 21 spaced fro ntheflange lll and eves-'1 yingthe sz-nne formi'ng' curved wall 1 22 tlierebetween p acent tlie flange portion 19, the protector is provided with a tape recl portion 23 having-an external diameter substantially the same as the -=in ternal;dianieter ofthe taperesd skirt portion w oli' the coupling. The portion 23 of the protector is adapte'dto-en gage theinner portion of the skirt 15 as the protector is placed in position in the coupling formingan oil tight connection between the portion 23 and theskirt portion 15, and likewise the corresponding threaded portions of the protector and coupling form an oil tight connection.

The diameter of the center body portion 17 is less than the diameter of any other portion of the protector 16 and thereby forms a space 24 betweenthe outer surface of the protector 16 and the threads 14 of the cou pling 13. The space 2 1 is employed for containing a lubricant for protecting the threads 14 of the coupling 13 from corrosion or rust and otherwise preserving threads and maintaining them inreadily operable condition. When it is desired to ship couplings 13. separately from .pipes, a thread protector 16 is provided for each end of thecouplings.

By providing the lubricant chamber or space 24, a greatiadvantage is added to-this particular art, as it is well known that the protectors heretofore provided, permit rain and moisture access to the threads for which protection is desired, oausingdeterioration of the threads. By providing a lubricant chamber 24, the threads are at an times 1n"- bricated and thoroughly protected from adverse Weather conditions as Well as from dirt mi nj y ughhandling Another important advantage of the pres ent protector is that the number of threads required on the protector are 'reduced to a minimum and thereby rendering'the protector less expensivetomanufacture} The portions 19, 215-22and 23 serve to strengthen and protect the end of the coupling or'pipe V to which the protector may be employedin "amanner wellknown in the art. r Vhile- I have illustrated and described but oneembodilnent of this invention it will be apparentfto those skilled in'the art that certain changes, modifications, substitutions,

additions and omissions may be'made'in the a i i a protector Without'departing from the spirit v and scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention what [I claim and desire to secureby Letters Batent is:

A thread protector comprisingfan exter 3 nally threaded annular end portion, an annular countersunk intermediate portion of less diameter than said threaded portion; an annular end portion having an abrupt shoulder formed thereon of greater diameter than said threaded portion and terminating in an annular re-entr'ant flange having a minimum A diameter less than the external diameter. of

said threaded portion, and an annular taper ing portion between said countersunk and last mentioned annular end portions.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 26th day of October,

PETER J. SHRUM. 

